The GOAT, Prime Time, Deion Sanders, Neon Deion was an elite DB, we all know that. However, this new generation may not know what position he played in high school. Yes, you guessed it, quarterback.
In my time of coaching and training, I have found that many of my best pupils were former quarterbacks. Here are three reasons why former quarterbacks make great DBs.
Great Hands
Only one person handles the football more than the quarterback and that’s the center. Quarterbacks have an intimate relationship with the football. It’s a sin when playing quarterback to let the ball slip through your hands. They bring that same mentality to the defensive back position. Sometimes when you are raised as a defensive back and only a defensive back, knocking the ball down becomes ok. Former quarterbacks don’t bring that mindset. If the ball is not caught when it comes their way then it’s utter failure. Former quarterbacks turned DBs, attack the football.
Solid Footwork
To throw a football effectively, you have to have solid footwork. What’s going on down below must matchup with what’s happening up top. Quarterbacks do a lot of work with their feet believe it or not. Through that work, they develop a good amount of proficiency and efficiency with their steps. As it turns out, this is a key ingredient in being successful at defensive back. Change of direction is a big part of the tasks for guys in the secondary and a quarterback has had his fair share of work in that department.
If they were a running quarterback, then it goes without saying that they come over to the secondary with good feet. A big part of their life was getting in and out of trouble and dodging defenders. You don’t do that very well if you don’t have good feet. Now that they are defensive backs, they use those feet to go find trouble or cause it.
Knowledge of Offense
This would be the most obvious advantage that a former quarterback would have. After spending all of that time as a signal caller, a quarterback turned defensive back gets a pretty good understanding of how the offense moves. They bring to the table a solid understanding of how WRs run their routes and what is going through the mind of the quarterback that they are now trying to intercept. This solid knowledge of how offensive plays are supposed to work, gives them the instincts they need to get the jump on a play and get into the passing lanes. There’s no doubt that knowledge of what the offense is going to do is valuable and who knows that more than a quarterback.
I didn’t tell you all of this for you to go harass your coach to become a quarterback. This article was written for you to learn from the things that make a quarterback a good defensive back a lot of the times. Improve on the areas where they are strong. Work on your hands, it is important to convert the turnover opportunities that come your way. Put an emphasis on taking the ball away. Continue to work on your footwork. Being efficient in your steps will get you to the ball faster. Finally, up your overall football IQ. Quarterbacks not only have to know their plays but what the defense is going to do. Why not know your defenses and what the offense is going to do? Makes sense right?
One of the big ways you can up your knowledge is by studying film and also acquiring knowledge from people who are sharing it. This is definitely my biggest aim in my member’s area. Not only do I show you drills but I break down technique and coverages. A combination of knowledge on these things are guaranteed to put you on the road to being elite. I strongly suggest that you consider joining today. Click here to sign up.
There is one potential draw back to a quarterback trying to come over and play defensive back. Many quarterbacks don’t spend much time getting hit and are thus not all that physical. Those guys can go play wide receiver.
Chad Wilson is the owner of All Eyes DB Camp and author of "101 DB Tips". He played college football at the University of Miami and briefly in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. Over his 15 year high school football coaching career, he tutored over a dozen Division I defensive backs and as a trainer has worked with NFL All Pros, first round draft picks, college football All Americans and Top 10 ranked high school football prospects.
